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As 2016 draws to a close, you have likely received many requests for donations. There are many worthy charities and organizations, including your local church! Gilbert Watch has some favorites for your consideration.

It has never been more important than now to elect solid conservatives with a voting record that backs up their rhetoric. So it is with Warren Petersen, who is running for Arizona Senate in LD12. As a state representative, he stood up for families and the unborn, for local support and control of education, and for the independent business person. His votes are testimony to his fight against overbearing regulations that hurt businesses and our economy. He has repeatedly protected our Second Amendment rights. Rep. Petersen is very knowledgeable about complex issues, and he knows how to protect the hard-working taxpayer from the big spenders at the Capitol.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Last year the Town of Gilbert was ranked as the second safest city in America. Great news! This ranking came from a review of violent crime data in the US. While the press focused largely on the influence of public safety, let’s take a moment to recognize the real reason for this ranking: strong families and a thriving faith and service community.

Oftentimes I will use a sports analogy for Team Gilbert and refer to our families, service groups, churches, and schools as our offense.

These groups score the real points in our Golden Rule Town. By instilling both a love of America and strong moral values into our community, strong families are the Most Valuable Player in Gilbert.

Of course a great team can’t be successful without a good defense. In a community, a strong defensive team consists of solid public safety and judicial systems.

SB1062 was not a "controversial" bill. Nor did it "affirm the right to discriminate." It was not "broadly worded." As for those "unintended negative consequences" thatGovernor Brewer stated in her veto, those are the consequences of standing up for religious liberty and the freedom to associate. Are those worth fighting for? Apparently not.

"SB 1062 does nothing more than align state law with the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (which passed the House unanimously, the Senate 97-3, and was signed by President Clinton in 1993). That is, no government action can “substantially burden” religious exercise unless the government uses “the least restrictive means” to further a “compelling interest.” This doesn’t mean that people can “do whatever they want” – laws against murder would still trump religious human sacrifice – but it would prevent the government from forcing people to violate their religion if that can at all be avoided. Moreover, there’s no mention of sexual orientation (or any other class or category).

God's name was mentioned at tonight's Gilbert School Board meeting so many times, I think He descended to earth to see what was up. (The Gilbert Governing Board meetings had always been "off limits" to the sound of God's name.)

The question being debated was: Should the Gilbert School Board bring the Invocation back to their board meetings? The answer was: Yes!

This issue had been brought to the board over a year ago by Staci Burk. It was voted down 4-1. After the most recent election, Daryl Colvin brought it to a vote, but it didn't pass 2-2. Board President Staci Burk was in the hospital. Then, Julie Smith brought it up again, and it passed 3-2.

So, tonight, Ms. Segal, the GPS attorney, gave a blow by blow description of various court cases. The Resolution is jam packed with case law and Supreme Court statements that she said will minimize the exposure to a lawsuit.

The board voted 3-2 in favor of the Invocation Resolution. 17 citizens spoke in favor; 3 against. There were 31 comment cards submitted by people who were in favor but did not speak, and 2 were submitted by people who were opposed, but did not speak.

I don’t know the number of emails that were sent to the Board. Lots. This is a community that believes very strongly that we were all endowed by our Creator, and that we are a religious people who recognize a Supreme Being. Further, we have the right and the duty, to ask for our Creator's guidance and blessing in a public forum. Most of the people who spoke were Christian, but they expressed a welcoming heart toward those of other religious traditions. "Let a thousand flowers bloom," stated a parent who learned that statement from a law professor.

Every person who spoke considered the issue from a slightly different angle. Many eloquent statements were made by each person. There were 4 high school students who spoke in favor. They understand very well that the issue is one of tolerance of religious expression. Brett Harvey, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, spoke in favor. Harriet and Bill Bathman, who spent 30 years as missionaries behind the Iron Curtain, also spoke. A J LaFaro, Chairman of the MCRC, spoke in favor. So did Glen Frakes, who taught in Gilbert Schools for several years. Patrick O'Malley, Gordon Ray, Gil Fidler, Anita Christy, Yvonne Hoskins, and Lina Hatch spoke in favor,

No one from the Freedom From Religion Foundation spoke. It was an extraordinary evening.

"It's not ok anymore to be silent," said a young mother of four children who had never been to a Gilbert School Board meeting before tonight.

I know this sounds a little dramatic, but it almost seemed like God was present. It was as if He heard someone speak His Name.